Best Diesel Cars in the UK (2026)
Ranked by MOT pass rate from 18,824,463 MOT tests on cars recorded as diesel (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Reliability from actual DVSA data, with estimated running costs.
Data: DVSA MOT tests carried out in 2024. 1,694 diesel model years analysed.
82%
Avg diesel pass rate
£2,159
Avg annual cost
199.52p/L
UK average diesel, week of 5 October 2026
Diesel cars remain popular with high-mileage drivers thanks to superior fuel economy on long runs. A small diesel doing 55 mpg will save hundreds per year over a petrol equivalent if you regularly cover motorway miles. The key risk with diesels is the DPF: short urban journeys can clog it, leading to expensive repairs and MOT failures.
Below are the most reliable diesel cars on UK roads, ranked by their MOT pass rate (the share of MOT tests that ended in a pass). We also show the cheapest diesels to run overall.
Check Any Diesel Car's History
Enter a reg plate for MOT history, DPF warnings, and a personalised running cost estimate.
Top 20 Most Reliable Diesel Cars
Ranked by MOT pass rate, with estimated annual running costs. Sports, performance and luxury cars (such as Ferraris, Bentleys, the Porsche 911 and BMW M cars) are left out of the most reliable lists because they are driven far less than everyday cars: in this data they had covered about 21% fewer miles than other cars of the same age.
| # | Car | Pass Rate | Total/yr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Land Rover Range Rover Westmnstr D MHEV A(2021) | 97% | £2,133 | |
| 2 | Land Rover R Rover Sprt Hse Slvr D MHEV A(2021) | 96% | £2,133 | |
| 3 | Land Rover Defender Hard Top D MHEV Auto(2021) | 96% | £2,133 | |
| 4 | Land Rover Defender SE D MHEV Auto(2021) | 96% | £2,133 | |
| 5 | Land Rover Defender S D MHEV Auto(2021) | 96% | £2,133 | |
| 6 | Land Rover Range Rover Evoque SE D MHEV A(2021) | 96% | £1,853 | |
| 7 | Mercedes G(2020) | 96% | £2,133 | |
| 8 | Ford Kuga ST-Line X Ed Eblue MHEV(2021) | 96% | £1,853 | |
| 9 | Land Rover Defender First Ed D MHEV Auto(2021) | 96% | £2,133 | |
| 10 | Audi SQ5 Vorsprung TDI Quattro Auto(2020) | 96% | £2,133 | |
| 11 | Volkswagen Tiguan Elegance TDI 4MOTION Sa(2021) | 96% | £1,853 | |
| 12 | Mercedes G(2021) | 96% | £2,133 | |
| 13 | Mercedes GLA 220 AMG Line Prem + D 4M A(2021) | 96% | £1,853 | |
| 14 | Ford Kuga ST-Line X Ed Eblue 4X4 A(2021) | 95% | £1,853 | |
| 15 | Mercedes B(2021) | 95% | £1,853 | |
| 16 | Audi A8(2018) | 95% | £2,133 | |
| 17 | Land Rover Defender S D Auto(2020) | 95% | £1,853 | |
| 18 | BMW 730(2019) | 95% | £2,133 | |
| 19 | Audi A8(2019) | 95% | £2,133 | |
| 20 | Mercedes GLA 200 AMG Line Executive D A(2021) | 95% | £1,853 |
Cheapest Diesel Cars to Run
Sorted by total annual running cost. Small-engine diesels with high pass rates dominate this list.
Top 10 Cheapest Diesels to Run
Lowest estimated annual running costs, diesel only
| # | Car | Pass Rate | Total/yr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SEAT Ateca(2016) | 91% | £1,645 | |
| 2 | MINI Paceman(2016) | 91% | £1,645 | |
| 3 | Volkswagen Golf(2016) | 90% | £1,645 | |
| 4 | Audi A3(2016) | 90% | £1,645 | |
| 5 | MINI One(2016) | 90% | £1,645 | |
| 6 | Skoda Roomster(2015) | 85% | £1,645 | |
| 7 | Skoda Roomster(2014) | 84% | £1,645 | |
| 8 | Skoda Roomster(2013) | 82% | £1,645 | |
| 9 | Smart (MCC) Fortwo Cabriolet(2011) | 82% | £1,645 | |
| 10 | Volkswagen Polo(2014) | 80% | £1,645 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most reliable diesel car?
The Land Rover Range Rover Westmnstr D MHEV A (2021) tops our diesel rankings with a 97% MOT pass rate from 1,233 tests. The pass rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Sports, performance and luxury cars (such as Ferraris, Bentleys, the Porsche 911 and BMW M cars) are left out of the most reliable lists because they are driven far less than everyday cars: in this data they had covered about 21% fewer miles than other cars of the same age.
Are diesel cars still worth buying in 2026?
If you cover a lot of miles, mostly on motorways, a diesel can still make sense, because diesels go further on each litre on long runs. If most of your driving is short urban trips, petrol, hybrid or electric is usually the better choice, and you avoid the DPF problems diesels get when the filter never gets hot enough to self-clean.
How much does a diesel car cost to run per year?
The average diesel car on this page costs an estimated £2,159 a year to run, covering fuel (at 199.52p a litre, the UK average pump price for the week of 5 October 2026), road tax, MOT and predicted repairs. The cheapest diesels on our list come to around £1,645 a year. Insurance is not included.
What are common diesel MOT failures?
Common diesel-specific failure points are emissions (often caused by a blocked DPF), EGR valve faults and turbo problems. Cars used mainly for short journeys are most at risk because the DPF never gets hot enough to self-clean.
Is diesel cheaper than petrol to run?
It depends on the car and how far you drive. Diesel costs more per litre (199.52p against 174.88p for petrol, UK average pump prices for the week of 5 October 2026) but goes further on each litre, so the fuel bills are often close at average UK mileage (7,400 miles a year). The more motorway miles you cover, the more diesel's better economy counts.
Can I check a specific diesel car before buying?
Yes. Enter any reg plate into our free car check to see its full MOT history, including any DPF or emissions advisories, mileage verification, and a personalised running cost estimate.
Check Any Car Free
MOT history analysis, health score, mileage verification, and running cost estimates. No signup required.
Best Petrol Cars
Petrol models ranked by reliability and cost
Best Electric Cars
EV rankings by pass rate and running costs
Reliability Rankings
All cars ranked by MOT pass rate
Methodology
Rankings are based on DVSA MOT test data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included. The pass rate is the share of tests that ended in a pass. Only diesel cars with 1,000+ tests from 2021 or earlier (old enough for a routine MOT in 2024) are included for statistical reliability; vans, motorhomes and taxis are left out. Each model year's figures cover all its tests, and its fuel type is the one recorded first in the data, so a model sold as petrol and diesel is listed only under the fuel type recorded for most of its tests. Fuel costs assume 199.52p a litre for diesel (UK average pump price for the week of 5 October 2026, from GOV.UK weekly road fuel prices) and 7,400 miles a year, with mpg estimated from engine size. Road tax is estimated from the year of first registration and, for 2001 to 2016 cars, an estimated CO2 band; cars that cost over £40,000 new pay more. Repairs are predicted from the MOT pass rate. Insurance excluded. Data sourced under the Open Government Licence v3.0.